Fixture

Mountain Ash RFC | Mountain Ash Athletic 27 - 31 Brecon RFC | Brecon Athletic
Matthew Watkins
2 Try
Richie Elliott
1 Try
Richard Lucas Jones
3 Conversion
2 Try

Match Report
26 April 2015 / Team News

Brecon 2nd XV Cup Winners

Brecon 2nd XV crowned a great season for the Rugby Club with an outstanding victory as they narrowly defeated Mountain Ash at Rhydyfelin. The young side had shown potential throughout the season which has been hampered by numerous cancellations. The fact that they have maintained their focus and saved their very best to last is testament to the spirit within the team and the leadership of its management including Kipper Parry, Gonzo Williams and Charlie Rooza.

Conditions were perfect for rugby and suited the younger, lighter Brecon side but the history of matches between the teams this season certainly did not favour Brecon. At home Brecon held Mountain Ash to a 15 points all draw but in the more recent away fixture they suffered a heavy loss, 28 points to 6. There was no doubting, therefore, that the Brecon team were underdogs and needed to pull out something special if they were to achieve a win.

The match itself turned out to be a classic with the result only being decided in the last second. Both sides played attractive, though contrasting rugby and kept a large crowd entertained for the full eighty minutes. The heavier and more experienced Mountain Ash side looked to keep the ball tighter and use their big runners to crash down mid-field while Brecon looked to move the ball wide in order to stretch their opponents. This contrast and the fact that both sides, for the most part, were eager to keep the ball in hand conspired to create a fascinating match.

Brecon started brilliantly. They mixed up their play with hard straight drives around the fringes and with width. The Mountain Ash team were stretched and with Brecon maintaining control of the ball a try looked likely. When it came, however, it was unexpected. After twelve phases of play Brecon lost the ball at a breakdown under the posts and the chance of posting an early score seemed to be lost. With ball in hand for the first time Mountain Ash attempted to kick themselves out of danger only for Matthew Watkins to charge the kick down and ground the loose ball over the try line. Lucas Jones converted and Brecon returned to half-way with a 7 point lead.

The lead, however, was short lived. Mountain Ash’s big wing made ground down the left and when Brecon were penalised at the breakdown their opponents pinned them down in the corner. After a series of forward drives the inevitable score finally came as their powerful forwards drove over to score a try which was converted.

With the scores level the game swung from end to end. Again Mountain Ash posed problems with their straight hard running while for Brecon the likes of full back Richie Elliott, wing Lucas Jones and scrum half Deri Williams always looked threatening with ball in hand. It was the forward power, however, that paved the way for the next score.

After a number of driving mauls which sucked in the Brecon defence, Mountain Ash moved the ball wide and with Brecon’s defence pulled in tight Mountain Ash’s centre had little difficulty in cutting through and scoring wide out. They almost scored again when their full back intercepted a speculative pass only for his final pass to his supporting wing to be dropped with virtually no defence left. That let off was doubly compounded when Deri Williams made a great break in mid-field. His run put Richie Elliott in the clear and the full back’s pace took him beyond the reaches of his chasers. Lucas Jones converted to give Brecon a narrow lead.

With half time approaching Brecon went further ahead. With Jim Williams and veteran Andrew Davies make good ground around the fringes Brecon earned a penalty. Keeping the momentum going they took a quick tap and found Lucas Jones in space. He evaded the cover and scored in the corner. Although the conversion failed Brecon carried their 7 point lead into half time.

Mountain Ash regrouped over half time and immediately put pressure on Brecon. Brecon’s defence was resolute and after weathering the storm almost scored at the other end only for Deri Williams to be denied when the referee adjudged that there was a second movement on the ground as he struggled to score. 

Working their way down the field Mountain Ash again encamped themselves deep in Brecon’s half. Time and again they kicked for the corner and time and again Brecon’s brave defence held out but eventually something had to give and a driving maul in the corner finally proved to be unstoppable.

With just two points between the teams the game reached a critical period. Brecon were penalised and Jim Williams sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on. With little between the sides and with Brecon now facing a ten minute period with 14 players the game swung in the favour of Mountain Ash. They soon took the lead with a penalty and more seemed likely but Brecon showed huge resolve and they saw out the remainder of the sin bin period without any further mishaps.

Restored to a full 15 Brecon attacked and Matthew Watkins cut through the heart of the defence and had enough strength to battle his way over the line. Jones was left with a simple conversion to give Brecon a six point lead with the clock running down.

The game still had a sting in its tail. For once the Brecon mid-field defence let itself down and allowed the Mount’s full back to cut through the middle. He set up the platform for his centre to score under the posts and the conversion restored Mountain Ash’s lead.

With minutes remaining Brecon were desperate and threw everything into attack. They lost one chance when a penalty was missed and with the referee signalling the last play Brecon mounted one final attack. Andrew Davies made a great run and the ball was moved left to Lucas Jones. He cut outside his wing and with only a narrow gap managed to squeeze in at the corner. The conversion was missed but that was irrelevant. The game was won and Brecon 2nd XV crowned a great season by lifting the cup.

Players
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